Cumann Staire

The Congested Districts Board For Ireland Report of 1892

The Balfour Land Act established The Congested Districts Board in 1891. The government appointed a board of commissioners to give aid to designated congested areas in the province of Connacht, and in the counties of Clare, Cork, Donegal, Limerick and Kerry. The board made grants available to improve the infrastructure, to update farming methods, and to give help to local industries, such as fishing by providing Harbours and Piers. Cottage Industries such as lace making and carpet making were also funded as were weaving and homespun cloth. Attention was also given to Beekeeping by subsidizing the cost of the hives and funding was made available to instructors in beekeeping.   Some hives are still called “CDB hives” as their design dates from this time.

 The board was also empowered to purchase estates and have them divided among small farmers.

 The following is the Report for  the “District of  Bealanageary” which for the Board was the area of West Cork from Ballyvourney to Drimoleague. The report gives a over all impression of conditions at the time for this and its surrounding areas. It was  prepared by one of the inspectors dispatched by the newly established Board in 1892.

Confidential.

CONGESTED  DISTRICTS  BOARD  FOR  IRELAND.

COUNTY OF CORK- UNIONS OF SKIBBEREEN, BANTRY, AND

MACROOM.

REPORT  OF  MR.  ROCHE,  Inspector.

DISTRICT

of

BEALANAGEARY.

No. -

STATISTICAL  TABLE

*mostly residents in village of Drimoleague

Report for Congested district Board 1892

(1)  Whether inland or maritime ?

     The district is inland.

(2)  Average quantity of land cultivated on holdings at and under £4 valuation, under (a) oats, (b) potatoes, (c) meadow, (d) green crops.

     There are about 4.5 acres on an average cultivated on holdings at and under £4 valuation in the following way:-

                                              Oats   .   .   .   .   1.5 acres.

                                              Potatoes   .   .   .   .   1 acres.

                                              Meadow   .   .   .   .   1.5 acres.

                                              Green crops   .   .   .   .   0.5 acres.

                                                                     Total,       4.5 acres.

(3)  Extent of mountain or moor grazing and rights possessed by tenants, whether in common or otherwise.

     In this district there are about 33,000 acres of mountain and moor grazing, 7,000 of which are used in common, the remainder in severalty.

(4)  Extent and description of land, if any, which could be profitably reclaimed and added to existing adjoining holdings.

     There are probably 10,000 acres of reclaimable land in this district, mostly moor and mountain.  In the Bredagh Electoral Division there is a considerable extent of coarse rocky land which might be reclaimed and brought into cultivation by the removal of boulders and rocks.

(5)  Particulars as to any suitable land in the district which could be obtained, and to which families could be migrated with a reasonable prospect of success.

     There is no suitable land in this district to which families could be migrated with a prospect of success.

(6)  Method of cultivation, manures, rotation of crops, etc., etc.

     Cultivation is carried on in this district on the large holdings by the plough, and on the small holdings by the spade.  Farm-yard dung is the chief manure.  Lime is used to some extent as a fertilizer, but not at all so much as formerly, or as it ought to be.  Potatoes, oats, and grass, is the usual rotation.

(7)  General information with regard to stock, and suggestions as to improvement of breeds of -(a) cattle, (b) sheep, (c) horses and donkeys, (d) pigs, (e) poultry, etc., etc.

     The cattle in this district have a marked Ayrshire strain, but are very mixed in breed.  An infusion of new blood is very desirable.  Persons of experience, and who know the district, approve of half-bred Shorthorn bulls; others think well of Red Polled, and some favour Ayrshire.  Pigs are bred in large numbers; improvement in the breed is necessary.  I consider large white Yorkshire boars the best for the purpose.  A large number of hens are also kept, but for producing eggs only.  The introduction of breeds, suitable for table use and equally good egg layers, would be beneficial.

(8)  Markets and fairs for cattle and produce of district, also statement as to where the people obtain food and other supplies, and the prevailing custom with regard to the disposal of butter, eggs, and poultry ; to what extent they are sold in the first instance to local shopmen and dealers, and generally speaking how old the eggs are when sold to the first buyer, and about how old when they reach their ultimate destination in Great Britain.

     The fairs held in this district at which cattle and produce are mostly sold are Dromdaleague, Skibbereen, Macroom (24 in the year), Dunmanway (12 in the year), Inchigeela (4 in the year), and Bantry (13 in the year).  Butter and eggs are sold at the weekly markets in those towns, and also in Ballyvourney and Ballingeary.  By some of the larger farmers butter is packed in firkins, and sold in Cork.  Eggs are on an average four days old when first sold, and fourteen days old when they reach the consumer.

(9)  Rail, steamer, sailing boat, road, postal and telegraph facilities.

     The nearest railway stations to the district are Bantry, Drimoleague, and Macroom.  Roads in the district are good.  There are Post Offices at Ballyvourney, Ballymakeery, Bealanageary, Inchigeela, Kealkill and Dromdaleague.  There are no telegraph stations in the district.

(10)  Employment for labourers in district, whether temporary or constant, and rate of wage.

     Employment in the district is constant from March 1st to November 1st ; temporary from November 1st to March 1st.  Wages average 6s. a week with diet, 9s. a week without, and usually a house and garden free also.  The wages for casual labour in spring and harvest are much higher.

(11)  Migratory labour, average earnings per head and where earned.

     There are no migratory labourers in this district.

(12)  Weaving, spinning, knitting, and sewing, whether used locally or sold, and where.

     Weaving, spinning, knitting, and sewing are carried on only to a small extent in this district and that only for home use.

(13)  Kelp-burning and sale of seaweed.

     The district is inland.

(14)  Sale of turf-nature and extent of bogs.

     Turf is sold in this district to a small extent.  Macroom bogs are very extensive, probably 5,000 acres.

(15)  Lobster fishing, number of men and boats employed.

     The district is inland.

(16)  Sea fishing-facilities for sale of fish, and number of men and boats solely employed in fishing.

     The district is inland.

(17)  Number of boats and men employed in fishing, or carrying turf or seaweed.  Classification of boats.

     The district is inland.

(18)  Fish, whether consumed at home or sold.

     The district is inland.

(19)  Extent of fish curing.

     The district is inland.

(20)  Piers and Habours, existing and suggested, and how far those existing are adapted to wants of district.

     The district is inland.

(21)  Extent of salmon and freshwater fisheries- number of men earning their livelihood there from.

     There are no salmon nor freshwater fisheries in the district.

(22)  Banks and Loan Funds.

     There are no Banks nor Loan Funds in this district.  The National Bank at Macroom, the Provincial at Bantry, and Skibbereen, and the Munster and Leinster at Bantry, Dunmanway, Macroom, and Skibbereen supply banking accommodation.

(23)  Mineral and other resources.

     There are no mineral nor other resources in this district.

(24)  Relative prevalence of cash or credit dealings, length of credit, interest charged, extent of barter, etc., etc.

     Cattle, sheep, pigs, butter, and eggs are usually sold for cash.  Food, clothing, and other supplies are generally bought on credit, and paid for at the end of each year.  No interest is charged, but prices are somewhat higher than if the goods were bought for cash.  There is no barter carried on.

(25)  Estimated cash receipts and expenditure of a family in ordinary circumstances.

     The estimated cash receipts and expenditure of a family living on a holding of £5 valuation would be about £40, but varying according to circumstances.

(26)  Estimated value of home-grown food consumed, and period during which it lasts.

     The estimated value of home-grown food consumed is as follows :-

                                                                      £   s.  d.

                                        Potatoes   .   .   .   12   0   0

                                        Milk         .   .   .     5   0   0

                                                                     ----------

                                                         Total,   17  0   0

     If the potato crop is good it lasts throughout the year.  The crop of 1890 was consumed in three months.

(27)  Dietary of people-number of meals daily, and kinds of food throughout the year.

     The people of this district take three meals daily, viz:-

     Breakfast-- Bread and milk or tea.

     Dinner-- Potatoes and milk, with bacon occasionally.

     Supper-- Bread and milk.

     When potatoes are abundant they are used for a second meal during part of the year.

(28)  Clothing--whether home-made or bought, etc., etc.

     The clothing of the people of this district is almost entirely bought.

(29)  Dwelling--kinds of houses, home life and customs, etc., etc.

     The houses are of a better class in this district than in any other I have visited.  Fully three-fourths are slated, and contain two rooms or more.  In the Electoral Division of Slievereagh there are very few thatched dwellings.

(30)  Character of the people for industry, etc., etc.

     The industrial character of the people in the district is good.

(31)  Whether any organized effort has been made to develop the resources or improve the condition of the people.  If so, by what means.

     No organized effort has been made to develop the resources or improve the condition of the people in this district.

(32)  Suggestions as to any possible method for improving the condition of the people in future.

     The most important suggestions I can make for improving the condition of this district, which is purely pastoral and agricultural, are :-

     (1)  The improvement of the breeds of all kinds of live stock (horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs) and poultry.

     (2)  By supplying, or assisting to supply, at cost price reliable farm seeds and artificial manures.

     (3)  By encouraging planting of shelter by supplying trees and instruction in planting.

     (4)  By assisting to develop some domestic industries in the village of Dromdaleague, which would employ the young females.

     If the use of lime could be promoted or encouraged in any way it would be very beneficial.

     The district generally is not a very poor one compared with others.

     Taking it as a whole it gives about twelve acres and a valuation of 27s. 9d. to each head of population.  There is a large extent of reclaimable land requiring to be drained and limed.  If the rate of repayment of Land Improvement Loans to tenants were reduced by an extension of the time, it would tend to promote reclamation, which is more required in this district than migration, as the population is not dense, and the holdings are comparatively large.

                                                                                  REDMOND  ROCHE,

                                                                                             Inspector.

  21st.  December, 1892.